United States President Joe Biden has delivered a rare rebuke to Israel, expressing profound outrage and heartbreak over the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza. In a strongly worded statement issued by the White House on Tuesday night, Biden condemned Israel’s actions and demanded greater accountability for the loss of innocent lives.
The incident, which occurred on Monday night, involved the attack on a convoy of humanitarian workers from the US-based aid organization World Central Kitchen. The workers were targeted shortly after unloading food aid in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah city. Among the victims were individuals of diverse nationalities, including a US-Canadian dual citizen, an Australian, a Pole, a Palestinian, and three nationals of the United Kingdom.
Biden’s condemnation marks one of his most forceful criticisms of Israel to date, highlighting a growing rift between the Biden administration and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While reaffirming the United States’ unwavering support for Israel, Biden emphasized the need for Israel to do more to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.
“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed. This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult – because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” Biden stated.
The President called for a swift and transparent investigation into the incident, stressing the importance of accountability and public disclosure of the findings. He reiterated the United States’ commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through all available means.
Biden’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between the US and Israel over the handling of the conflict with Hamas. Despite his criticism of Israel’s actions, Biden has faced criticism for continuing to approve weapons shipments to Israel, including a recent $18 billion deal for F-15 fighter jets.
The Biden administration’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict has drawn scrutiny from progressives, rights activists, Arab Americans, and Muslims, who have accused the President of prioritizing political alliances over human rights concerns. The cancellation of a planned Ramadan iftar meal at the White House further underscored the growing discontent within Muslim American communities over Biden’s support for Israel.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to unfold, Biden’s condemnation of Israel’s actions signals a shift in US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the President’s commitment to balancing support for Israel with calls for greater accountability and protection of civilian lives remains a delicate balancing act in the midst of ongoing hostilities.
